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China Willing to Enhance Military Cooperation

Beijing is ready to develop cooperation between its armed forces and Iran, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said on Saturday at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Amir Hatami.

"Relations between the armed forces of China and Iran are developing positively. Beijing is willing to strengthen the strategic contacts with Tehran, expand the sphere of cooperation, achieve new results from cooperation between the two armies and by extension contribute to the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two states," Wei said, Sputnik reported.

General Hatami said that Iran attaches great importance to relations with China and with the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and appreciates the important role played by China in contributing to international and regional peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in phone talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif last month that Beijing was prepared to develop cooperation with Tehran and condemned the use of unilateral sanctions in international relations referring to the reinstatement of US embargos against Tehran.

Prior to his meeting with Wei, Hatami held talks with vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, General Zhang Youxia.

Speaking to IRNA before leaving Beijing, Hatami said his meetings with Chinese defense officials were fruitful.

Hatami said that in the talks bilateral relations, important regional and international developments --including the US's repeated violations of international law and norms that have crated anxiety in the whole world -- were discussed.

“Iran and China are worried about the region's conditions, especially US-engineered crisis in east and western Asia. The two countries agreed on the necessary coordination,” Hatami said.

The Iranian minister further said his trip to China was primarily aimed at following up on the agreements the two sides have signed in the past to broaden defense cooperation.

Hatami and his entourage also paid a visit to a Chinese space center used for training astronauts.

The two sides have close diplomatic, economic, trade and energy ties, and in recent years have also developed military relations.

Hatami arrived in the Chinese capital Beijing on Thursday at the head of a high-ranking delegation on the invitation of his Chinese counterpart.